January 29, 2021 Share
Myanmar’s powerful military on Tuesday declined to rule out staging a coup over its claim that the country’s 2020 elections were tainted by voter fraud, as experts warned the dispute is leading to a political crisis in the nascent democracy that emerged from harsh army junta rule only a decade ago.
Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy won the Nov. 8 elections in a landslide, but the military-affiliated Union Solidarity and Development Party contends there was widespread voter fraud and has been increasing pressure on electoral authorities to investigate.
The military, whose soldiers are guaranteed 25% of seats in parliament under the constitution, and the USDP, made up of former military officers, claim to have found 8.6 million irregularities in voter lists in 314 townships that could have let voters cast multiple ballots or commit other “voting malpractice.”
The Australia Karen Organization commemorated World Refugee Day by calling for the international community to give more support to Karen people living in refugee camps along the Thai-Burma border. Under its banner, ‘Restoring Hope’, the Australia Karen Organization (AKO) and as many as 250 people gathered in Villawood, Sydney on June 22.
The celebration was attended by over 250 participants including Australian members of parliament, Kachin ethnic group, delegations from the Burmese Muslim Association, political organizations, religious organizations and resettled member of the Burmese community.
Speaking at the ceremony, an AKO chairperson, Saw Lwin Oo said.
“The refugee situation is related to politics in Burma. No matter how many ceasefire agreements are being signed, if there is no political settlement, it will be unacceptable to carry out any refugee repatriation program. Karen and Kachin refugees from eastern and northern Burma are stateless due to the Burma Armies per